**Chapter 10: Desperate Measures**

Bullshit, I’m staying with her, I always have been with her, I’ll kill myself if you take me away from her, I mean it. Ashley's voice was shaking as she pulled up her sleeves, revealing the scars that crisscrossed her arms. The social worker's eyes widened in shock, but Ashley didn't care. She was willing to do whatever it took to stay with Erica. The social worker took a step back, her expression a mix of concern and alarm. "Ashley, I didn't know...I had no idea," she said, her voice softening. Ashley sneered, feeling a mix of emotions: desperation, anger, and fear. "You don't know anything," she spat, her eyes flashing with defiance. "You don't know what it's like to have no one, to have only Erica. She's all I have, and I'll do whatever it takes to stay with her." The social worker's expression was sympathetic, but firm. "Ashley, I understand that you're scared, but threatening to harm yourself is not the solution. We need to get you help, and we need to get you help now." Ashley laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "Help? You call this help? Taking me away from Erica? That's not help, that's torture." The social worker pulled out her phone and dialed a number, her eyes never leaving Ashley's face. "I'm going to call for an ambulance, and we're going to get you the help you need. This isn't a solution, Ashley, but it's a step in the right direction." Ashley felt a surge of panic, her heart racing as she realized what was happening. She was going to be taken away from Erica, and she didn't know how she was going to survive without her sister by her side. With a surge of adrenaline, Ashley lunged at the social worker, her eyes blazing with desperation. "No, you can't take me away," she shouted, her voice hoarse with emotion. The social worker was caught off guard, but she quickly regained her composure, calling out for Erica to help her restrain Ashley. As Erica rushed back into the room, Ashley knew she was running out of options. She was going to lose the one person she loved, and she didn't know how she was going to cope.